Leg/knee question

[getswoll]

AnimalMass, I'm sure can answer this, but perhaps some of you other guys can give some input.

I had to have a lateral release done to my right knee when I was a Junior in HS, almost 6 years ago. As a result, my right leg is slightly weaker than my left. I've never really noticed much of a difference until lately. I've noticed that when I squat heavy, I tend to compensation with my left leg.

My question is, what type of added training if any would be advisable, to keep that leg up to par? Oh, for those of you that don't knoe, a lateral release, is when you have damage to the joint that causes the knee cap to move, making it necessary to remove a small part of the quadriceps insertion point on the outside (lateral) of the knee......

Thanks for any input.

GS

[Girth]

I'm no AM, so I can't give an answer backed by cited studies. But perhaps my empirically based answer might spur AM to correct me if need be. I look at it like any other favored side situation. You simply need to train the right leg by itself. Some one legged squats will not only help correct the imbalance, but they will also improve your balance/coordination with that leg. Which in turn would perhaps increase the innervation that you lost with the removed tissue.

Case in point, I have no injuries to speak of, but my right leg and calf strength is much greater than my left. Why, it's not so much the weight training. It's the years of force training via long jumps, pitching, and bounding. The power training will help to innervate your leg. Thus, I'd highly recommend some plyo's. Probably bounding, one legged box jumps, and the dot drill.

[getswoll]

hmmm... .well I've done most of that. I was on the track team as a thrower in college; now I just powerlift, but I keep the same athletic type cardio/plyo things around...... I'll have to re-evaluate what I'm doing I suppose. I'm wondering if the fact I've lost some weight since I've been stationed out here might have something to do with it....

[Girth]

I'll bump this back up for you, as it appears my suggestions weren't above and beyond what you were already doing.

[ForemanRules]

I would treat it like any other exercise, use a weight that both sides can handle. If you are compensating with the right or left side then the weight is too heavy.

Just an opinion, good luck with your training.

[AnimalMass]

GS,

Honestly, I'm not sure if I do have the right answer on this one. If it were me I'd do a few things...

1) Play with my squat stance a bit - specifically learning how to really sit back and use the hamstrings and glutes, rather than the quads to squat.

2) Are you in Chucks? (or are you usuing some other shoe with a heel that might put more tension on the quad?)

3) Videotape your form and figure out when you start compensating and then make sure your speed work is right on par.

4) Unilateral movments probably wouldn't hurt. Just don't go heavier in the left leg than you do with the right.

That's about all I know to help fix the problem.

[getswoll]

Originally Posted by AnimalMass

GS,

Honestly, I'm not sure if I do have the right answer on this one. If it were me I'd do a few things...

1) Play with my squat stance a bit - specifically learning how to really sit back and use the hamstrings and glutes, rather than the quads to squat.

2) Are you in Chucks? (or are you usuing some other shoe with a heel that might put more tension on the quad?)

3) Videotape your form and figure out when you start compensating and then make sure your speed work is right on par.

4) Unilateral movments probably wouldn't hurt. Just don't go heavier in the left leg than you do with the right.

That's about all I know to help fix the problem.

Yeah, I'm in chucks. I don't have a video camera, but I've had some people watch for me. It appears to only become evident when I go over 450 and then near the bottom. At that point they say it's obvious I shift load to my left leg. For the past several weeks I've been working on pulling my hamstrings into them more, and when I do some leg press, I make an effort to put most of the focus/drive into my right leg.
AM, everyone, thanks for your input, if you come up with anything else, give me a shout.

GS

[nsashbl01]

I have had the same surgery. Best way to secure the release works well and to keep the other knee tracking it to work the Vastus Medialis